Music can be a scientific laboratory. As the melody unfolds, the artists embark upon a musical experiment that really needs to be heard to be believed. This is a metal song, but it is submerged underneath 20,000 leagues of organic and spiritual evolution. At that depth, the echoes of an infinity of egos melt into a droning hymn to life, death, good and evil.

Samael are masters of the unexpected, having pioneered new sound and shifted genres several times during their three decade musical career. This is one of the most interesting metal songs I know. It is an unorthodox composition that strikes an exquisite balance between headbanging material and joyful, middle of the night tribal dancing. Topping everything off is some clever writing, which is something Samael are particularly good at.

This is a story about how people are manipulated by organized religion and media. Case in question: the way various religious cults try to explain away the existence of the dinosaurs – a fact of biological history which contradicts certain interpretations of the Bible (namely that the Earth is roughly 6000 years old).

What genre could be better suited for combating outrageous ignorance if not some compositional-diverse, well-produced, perfectly-balanced metal. This melody is a mental sword. Wield it proudly and enjoy its symmetric construction. There’s also a magnificent array of vocals, making this one of my favorite metal song ever. And that’s not all…

Here’s an hymn for change if there ever was one! And what’s the best music to stimulate change? How about a couple of rabid guitars riffing against relentless percussion? The occasional synthesizer touch is there to bring diversity to an already good song. Even for those that aren’t fans of rap-metal, the lyrics of this song are an ode to change of fascinating intensity.

There aren’t many metal bands that manage to make good music and write decent lyrics. There are even fewer that make excellent music and write excellent lyrics. Clawfinger is one of them. The band’s lyrics are firmly rooted in the sad realities of the late 20th and early 21st century when social decay at the hands of corporations and corrupt governments caused an immense amount of grief and social trauma.

In the mood for some excellent metal music? This song’s multidimensional beauty never ceases to amaze. With every passing second, we are rising, step by step, towards the divine nature of art. The choir with which the song ends is one of the most evocative I’ve ever heard. Splendid instrumentation and structure complete the masterpiece.